William A. Corsaro s groundbreaking work, The Sociology of Childhood, is widely acclaimed as the only text that thoroughly covers children and childhood from a sociological perspective providing in-depth coverage of social theories of childhood, the peer cultures and social issues of children and youth, and children and childhood within the frameworks of culture and history.The Fourth Edition has been thoroughly updated to incorporate the latest research and the most pertinent information so readers can engage in powerful discussions on a wide array of topics. "
A larger discussion devoted to the sociology of childhood. Discussion are broken into sections and chapters and cover a wide arrangement of theories, methods, and subjects. A good introduction for those not necessarily within this field, as it was easy to follow and understand. Great incorporation of other studies and sources for further reading.
Four starts because although it promises to discuss non-Western constructs of childhood, I found it fell flat here. Mostly focuses on Westernized (US) childhood.
It's a textbook, and as such, it's often a bit dry. However, the tidbits from Corsaro's fieldwork help make it more lively. This book is also jam packed with information.